Halo series in Order of Release | All Halo games in the series on GG.deals

Halo Series

Number of games: 17

Check out all the Halo games in one convenient place on GG.deals! Discover the best deals on all titles, DLCs, and in-game currency with us! You can use our filters to sort by release date, lowest price, and more. Learn about the Halo series timeline and play chronologically if you want to experience the franchise as it was meant to be played. Even after all these years, it's worth checking out.

When did Halo come out?

Halo: Combat Evolved is a first-person shooter that was originally released in 2001 exclusively for the first Xbox. It was developed by Bungie, which worked on the series until 2010. The game revolutionized console shooters with its incredible gunplay, compelling story, and impressive graphics.

The sequel, Halo 2, improved on every aspect and was one of the first games to popularize online matchmaking and voice chat, creating a massive community of Halo fans. Some say this franchise cemented Xbox as a serious contender in the console market.

The latest game, Halo Infinite, was released in 2021 and featured a truly open world for the first time in the series. The last few games were developed by 343 Industries, a studio created specifically for developing Halo games. Their next entry will be developed using Unreal Engine 5, but as of March 2025, no specific details have been revealed.

How many Halo games are there?

Here is a list of Halo series in order of release:

Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo 2
Halo 3
Halo Wars
Halo 3: ODST
Halo Reach
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Halo 4
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Halo: Spartan Strike
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Wars 2
Halo Infinite

As you can see, there are 14 games in the Halo franchise. Some belong to the mainline series, while others, like the Halo Wars series, are spin-offs focusing on strategy gameplay. The original trilogy and Reach were developed by Bungie, while the Anniversary edition of the original game, Halo 4, and all subsequent releases were made by 343 Industries. The Halo timeline is divided into two distinct sections, as the change in developers significantly impacted the feel of the games.

What is Halo about?

The Halo franchise is a sci-fi first-person shooter series developed initially by Bungie and later by 343 Industries, published by Xbox Game Studios. It follows an epic conflict between humanity and a theocratic alien alliance called the Covenant, which seeks to annihilate mankind due to religious beliefs tied to ancient Forerunner technology.

The central story revolves around Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, a super-soldier known as a Spartan, and his AI companion, Cortana. Throughout the series, they battle the Covenant, uncover the secrets of the Halo rings, massive ring-shaped superweapons built by an ancient race called the Forerunners, and face the parasitic threat of the Flood, a terrifying organism capable of consuming all life.

The franchise spans multiple games, books, and other media, with its most iconic entries including Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3. Later games expand on the universe, introducing the rise of an AI rebellion and humanity’s struggle against Cortana, a Forerunner-created AI who turns rogue.

In What Order to play Halo games?

You should start with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which updates all six original games. They can be played in either chronological order or their original release order. After that, you only need to play Halo 5 and Halo Infinite to complete every mainline entry.

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Each Halo game takes around 10 hours to complete, and every title can be played in co-op mode. On normal difficulty, playing through the entire series should take about 80 hours in total.

What’s the best-selling Halo game?

The best-selling Halo game is Halo 3, which sold over 14.5 million copies worldwide. It became a cultural icon, and many gamers still consider it the best entry in the series. It improved upon every aspect of its predecessors and provided a fitting conclusion to the original trilogy. Some players believe the franchise should have ended with this installment.

Most Iconic Halo characters

The most iconic Halo character is the main protagonist, Master Chief. He is an elite soldier who doesn't speak much but always gets the job done. His distinct voice is burned into the memory of many players.

Another fan-favorite character is Halo's Cortana, an artificial intelligence who assists the Chief throughout most of the games. She is his closest companion, guiding him through every challenge he faces.